“Kkulkul…”

Mondri clicked his tongue as he walked down the hallway.

A few days ago, during the practical test for new students, the gate to the demon realm went berserk for unknown reasons.

No one was seriously injured, but five students taking the test were trapped inside the gate.

That day happened to be the day Mondri was away on a business trip.

Upon hearing the news, Mondri canceled his schedule and boarded an express train back to school, sensing that this was no small incident.

Even he, as the Chancellor, couldn’t guarantee he could resolve it. He even considered seeking help from his master, Myohail, who had transcended the mortal world.

But by the time Mondri barely made it back to school, the situation had already been resolved.

The barrier was destroyed, and all the trapped students had returned safely.

And it was all thanks to a man he had never expected.

Mondri stopped in front of a large door.

It was the Chairman’s Office, the seat of absolute power within the school.

As he was about to knock, the door opened as if waiting for him.

“Come in.”

A low voice greeted him.

“Ahem…”

Mondri cleared his throat and stepped into the Chairman’s Office.

In the center sat the Chairman.

He was a man with a strangely tired expression.

His jet-black hair swayed as he looked through documents.

His appearance was flawless and elegant, as if he belonged in a fashion magazine.

Behind him stood a beautiful woman in a military coat, her hands clasped behind her back.

She was his bodyguard knight, Mondri recalled.

Even at a glance, she was an extraordinary individual.

The pure magical power she radiated was so intense it seemed ready to boil over at any moment.

Only a mage of Mondri’s caliber could sense it; to others, she would appear as nothing more than a delicate woman.

“Chairman Tristan Ruelberta.”

“Hmm.”

Mondri bowed his head respectfully.

It didn’t sit well with him to bow to someone so much younger.

But he had no choice.

In terms of position or family influence, there was no comparison.

“You took care of the aftermath on my behalf. I don’t know how to thank you…”

“No need for thanks. I merely resolved an incident that occurred at my school.”

Though he spoke casually, the events of that day had once again drawn attention to Tristan.

“By the way… the photo came out quite well.”

Mondri gestured toward the newspaper on the desk with his eyes.

The front page was dominated by a photo of Tristan.

It captured him carrying a girl out of the flames.

The headline was equally sensational.

[The Chairman’s Love for His Students, Unstoppable Even by Raging Flames.]

Public opinion unanimously praised him.

Even now, reporters were camped outside the school gates, waiting to capture Tristan’s every move.

“It’s not that the photo came out well.”

The woman behind him smirked.

“A mere photo couldn’t even capture half of the Chairman’s charm—”

“Helga. Silence.”

At the cold tone, the woman named Helga quickly covered her mouth.

“For the time being, restrict access to outsiders. There may be those trying to sneak in for interviews. Also, ensure students don’t approach the arena under repair. No one but authorized personnel is allowed in until the cause is determined.”

“Understood.”

“Submit the expected expenses to me. I know you’ve just returned, but I’ll need your help.”

“Of course. Hehe. It’s only natural. But…”

Mondri stroked his beard as he spoke.

“There’s one thing I’d like to ask you, Chairman…”

“What is it?”

“Four of the students trapped in the barrier have expressed a desire to drop out. Do you know anything about that?”

“It must have been a harrowing experience.”

Tristan answered immediately.

“The inside of the barrier was no less than hell.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. The stench of rot emanated from the vermin there.”

Mondri could guess as much.

The monstrous beasts beyond the gate had been left unattended for years.

They must have devoured each other, becoming even more terrifying creatures.

Understanding this, Mondri decided not to press further.

Tristan continued calmly.

“If they wish to leave, let them. Of course, if they wish to re-enroll, that’s also permitted.”

“Understood.”

“However, if they wish to re-enroll, tell them to come to me directly. I’ll ‘save’ them under my authority.”

“Hehe… You’re truly generous, Chairman.”

Though he said so, Mondri was inwardly concerned.

If this continued, the Ruelberta Family’s influence would rise significantly.

Having recently become one of the Seven Stars, Tristan’s actions as Chairman were anything but ordinary.

Many nobles still supported the Imperial Family, but who knew when they might turn their backs.

This made Mondri anxious.

A vassal with more power than the Emperor…

Such a thing should never exist.

To restore the waning authority of the Imperial Family, the Ruelberta Family must be kept in check.

‘But why hasn’t His Majesty said anything…?’

As Mondri pondered this, there was a loud knock at the door.

BANG BANG!

“Is this the Chairman’s Office?”

A man’s voice came from beyond the door.

No, how brazen must one be to knock on the Chairman’s Office door like that?

“Yes.”

As soon as Tristan answered, the door swung open.

CLANG.

The sound of heavy metal echoed as a man entered the office.

Mondri couldn’t believe his eyes.

The man was a knight in red armor.

As far as Mondri knew, there was only one group in the country who wore such armor.

“Tristan Ruelberta, kneel at once.”

The young knight of the Imperial Guard held out a neatly folded letter.

“Show proper respect and receive His Majesty the Emperor’s message.”

*

‘What’s this now…?’

I was a bit stunned and remained still.

The Imperial Guard delivering a message from the Emperor?

“What are you doing? Show proper respect at once.”

The Imperial Guard knight urged me.

But my body wouldn’t move easily.

Fear?

No. That couldn’t be.

My body was refusing to bow.

“Just give the letter to me.”

Before I could speak, Helga stepped in front of the Imperial Guard.

“…What did you just say?”

“It’s just a letter, right? Give it to me.”

“Didn’t you hear? This is His Majesty the Emperor’s message. It’s not just any letter.”

“That’s why it’s His Majesty’s letter. Our Count doesn’t kneel for a piece of paper.”

“What?! How dare you…!”

The Imperial Guard reached for his greatsword.

But he couldn’t draw it.

“?!”

“Think again. Is this really worth drawing your blade over?”

Helga had grabbed his scabbard.

With just that action, no matter how desperately the man tried to draw his sword, it wouldn’t budge.

Faced with Helga’s calm demeanor, the man muttered.

“You… Who exactly are you?”

“The Count’s bodyguard knight.”

“A bodyguard knight? How dare a mere bodyguard knight block His Majesty’s words?”

“Then let me ask you this. How dare a mere Imperial Guard demand the Count show respect?”

“You crazy bitch…”

“Crazy bitch…?”

Helga slightly covered her left eye as she spoke.

“Do you want to lose only half your life…?”

The Imperial Guard knight’s eyes widened in shock at her chilling gesture.

“That eye… Are you from Aslan?!”

The relationship between the Emperor’s Imperial Guard and Ruelberta’s Aslan was nothing short of hostile.

The Imperial Guard must have heard rumors about Helga.

But judging by his pale face, they weren’t good rumors.

“Step aside…!”

Finally, the Imperial Guard gave up on drawing his sword.

But as a knight of the Emperor, he couldn’t let go of his pride and shouted at me.

“With the title bestowed by His Majesty, how dare you show such disrespect…! Count, are you, as a member of the Seven Stars, challenging the authority of the Imperial Family?”

“The authority of the Imperial Family…?”

I scoffed at his words.

There was no need to kneel.

The authority of the Imperial Family seemed too laughable for me to kneel before.

The ‘pride’ within me stirred.

“That’s an interesting thing to say.”

I crossed my legs and sat back, speaking with utmost composure.

“Challenges are what the weak make to the strong. So it’s more accurate to say the Imperial Family is challenging my authority.”

“What?!”

Veins bulged on the knight’s forehead.

Regardless, I continued.

“And my joining the Seven Stars was solely for the sake of this country, not the Imperial Family.”

“You… You insolent…!”

“Silence.”

“?!”

My ‘wrath’ forced him to his knees.

Without holding back, I unleashed my ‘wrath’ upon him with full force.

He embarrassingly pressed his head to the floor.

“W-What is this…!?”

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t escape.

My personality trait was powerful enough to subdue even an Imperial Guard knight.

“Now you’re ready to talk, I see.”

“Kuh…”

“If you wish to earn my respect, show respect first. Servant of the Emperor.”

I coldly looked down at the man who had been forced to bow.

Like a true villain.

“Understood?”